Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-01
The Railway Attorneys Bill.


1t is clear that Senator Beck is going to
have pretty hard time to get his rail-
way attorneys bill through the Senate.
The prospect that it will pass this session
is not now very promising. 1t has been
sent 10 the foot OF the calendar of special
measures, and can only be got before the
Senate out OF its regular order by a ma
iority vote-something it is not likely to
get in view OF the fact that il lost its
place ON the calendar by a majority vote.
That the South believes that it
Is wrong for Congressman to take
fees from railways which are
continually before Congress in
one way and another is clearly shown by
the vote that was taken on the bill when
it was first considered. 1t passed by a
very large majority, and the vote was re-
considered only at the urgent request OF
Senator Edmunds. 1t will probably pass
again If 1t ever gets far enough along to
permit a vote upon it. The aim of the
railway Senators appears TO be to kill it
by keeping i'm the background.
Senator Hoar's amendment to it ia a
curious one, and shows that Senator to be
very shrewd or very innocent. It's that
no Congressman shall vote on any meas
ure affecting a railway from which be
has accepted fee. He cannot endure
the thought that Congressman shall be
deprived of a very lucrative business.
But is the Senator 80 unfamiliar with the
methods employed to influence legislation
as TO think that a COngressman's vote is
all that railway expects to obtain by Civ
ing him a feey IteXpects him to do a good
deal OF solid work in the committees aud
in influencing other Congressman. The
amendment is an admission that
legislation OF the kind proposed is
necessary. 1t is an argument in favor
OF the bill as it stands What right mas a
Congressman TO incapacitate himself
from voting upon any measured Is he
not paid to act for the peoplet How can
he, then, while accepting the peoples
money, give his time to railroad corpora
tions and neglect the duties the people
pay him to attend to? Let Senator Beck
press his bill to a vote and put the Sena-
tors on record with regard to it
Regarding President Cleyelaud's
chances for a second term, the story
comes from Washington that Col. Dan
Lamont has hired a man to clip from
the newspapers every article for or
against denomination In 1888 II the
clippings are to influence the President
as TO whether or not be will be a candi-
date, the matter may be considered al
ready settled. He will be q candidate,
because the Democratic newspapers favor
him. The Republican newspapers count
or nothing, and the Mugwump newspa-
pers will not forsake their FIRST love.
The Cincinnati Times-star SAYS: "The
growth OF Southern manufacturing and
mining Interests is due primarily to the
Republican policy OF protection, which
has been upheld in spite OF the fercsst
Democratic opposition" This is stun.
be- growth OF Southern manufacturing
and mining interests is due to the en-
forced withdrawal of Republican carpet
bsggers from the south and the energy
and thrift OF Southern people. Let the
South alone and it will take the lead in
industrial pursuits. just as it did in
politicskor nearly 100 years